Electrical connector component system

Abstract

A connector device that can reliably carry high data rates is described. The device disclosed offers multiple termination mediums and a variety of electrical packaging applications. The connector device ensures a high degree of wire position control through the use of wire retention combs and/or registration holes. The wire retention combs grip and secure portions of the discrete wires, and the registration block secures the ends of the exposed wires such that a stable connection between the wires and the electrical contact leads of the device can be maintained. In alternative embodiments, one surface of the contact leads are designed to connect with discrete wires and an opposite surface of the contact leads are designed to connect to an electronic device card. In some embodiments of the present invention, the connector device is formed of two substantially identical components that are attached to each other.

We claim:  
     
       1. A substantially symmetrical electrical connector comprising: 
       a pair of substantially identical connector components that are attached to each other, each connector component having an inner face and an outer face wherein the inner faces of each respective connector component are attached to each other; and  
       a plurality of contact leads positioned within each of the connector components, each of the plurality of contact leads having a first connection portion suitable for making contact with an external connector device and a second connection portion suitable for making contact with electrical wires, the second connection portion being exposed on both the inner and outer faces of a respective connector component, whereby physical access to the contact leads on the inner and outer faces of each connector component is provided.  
     
     
       2. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 1  wherein physical access to the second connection portion on both the inner and outer faces facilitates a process for attaching electrical wire to the second connection portions. 
     
     
       3. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the connector components includes an opening that has a front edge and a rear edge, each of the contact leads being positioned within the opening and being connected to the front and rear edges of a respective opening. 
     
     
       4. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 3  wherein the opening in each connector component is suitably sized so that welding devices can access the contact leads in both the inner and outer faces of a respective connector component so that the wires can be welded to the contact leads. 
     
     
       5. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of contact leads further comprises a third connection portion suitable for making contact with traces on an electrical device. 
     
     
       6. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 5  wherein the second connection portions and the third connection portions are located on opposing surfaces of the contact leads and wherein the plurality of contact leads within each of the electrical connector components form a slot into which a electrical device can be inserted. 
     
     
       7. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 6  wherein the second connection portion of the contact leads have a longitudinal axis and the contact leads have a curved configuration such that the third connection portion of the contact leads are offset from the longitudinal axis of the second connection portions such that the distance between respective third connection portions in each of the electrical connector components is smaller than the distance between respective second connection portions in each of the electrical connector components, each of the second and third connection portions of the contact leads forming a leaf spring configuration. 
     
     
       8. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second connection portion of each contact lead is in the outer face of a respective connector component. 
     
     
       9. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 8  wherein the second connection portions are elongated and have a substantially flat contact surface. 
     
     
       10. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 9  wherein at least some of the second connection portions further comprise: 
       an elongated and recessed trough formed in the contact surface wherein the recessed trough is suitable receiving and aligning a lengthwise portion of a respective electrical wire.  
     
     
       11. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the connector components further comprise: 
       a registration block having a plurality of registration recesses being positioned proximate to the second connection portion of an associated contact lead and configured to receive and position an end portion of an associated wire to be connected to the second connection portion of the associated contact lead.  
     
     
       12. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 11  wherein each of the registration recesses has a center and a distance between the centers of each pair of adjacent registration recesses on each of the electrical connector components is approximately 0.8 mm. 
     
     
       13. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 11  wherein the registration recesses have substantially the same depth. 
     
     
       14. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 11  wherein the registration recesses of each registration block have registration surfaces that are aligned along respective axes such that when wires are attached to the second connection portions of the contact leads with their respective wire ends engaging the registration surfaces, the ends of the wires are aligned along the respective axis. 
     
     
       15. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 14  wherein the registration recesses position the end portion of the associated wires such that the longitudinal axes of the segment of the wires to be connected to the second connection portions of the contact leads are aligned with the longitudinal axes of the associated contact leads. 
     
     
       16. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 11  wherein each of the connector components further comprise: 
       a wire retention comb supported by the plurality of contact leads and spaced apart from the registration block such that the second connection portion is exposed between the registration block and the wire retention comb, the wire retention comb including a row of teeth wherein at least one adjacent pair of teeth is configured to secure an associated wire that is to be connected to the second connection portion of a selected one of the contact leads.  
     
     
       17. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 16  wherein one of the pair of electrical connector components is a first connector component and the other is a second connector component, the electrical connector further comprising: 
       a first latch having a panel and at least two clasps wherein one clasp extends from a first end of the panel and another clasp extends from a second end of the panel, the panel covering at least a portion of the wire retention comb of the first connector component and the clasps secured to the second connector component such that the clasps lock the first and second connector components together, the panel being suitable for making contact with the wires connected to the second connection portion of the contact leads such that the wires are locked into the teeth of the retention comb of the first connector component.  
     
     
       18. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 17  further comprising: 
       a second latch having a panel and at least two clasps wherein one clasp extends from a first end of the panel and another clasp extends from a second end of the panel, the panel covering at least a portion of the wire retention comb of the second connector component and the clasps secured to the first connector component such that the clasps lock the first and second connector components together, the panel being suitable for making contact with the wires connected to the second connection portion of the contact leads such that the wires are locked into the teeth of the retention comb of the second connector component.  
     
     
       19. An electrical connector comprising: 
       a pair of substantially identical connector components that are attached to each other, each connector component having an inner face and an outer face, each of the connector components includes an opening that has a front edge and a rear edge;  
       a plurality of contact leads within each of the connector components, the contact leads being positioned within a respective opening and being connected to the front and rear edges of a respective opening, the contact leads having a first connection portion suitable for making contact with an external connector device, a second connection portion suitable for making contact with electrical wires, and a third connection portion suitable for making contact with traces on an electrical device, the second connection portion of the contact leads being exposed on both the inner and outer faces of a respective connector component, whereby physical access to the contact leads on the inner and outer faces of each connector component is provided; and  
       wherein the second connection portions and the third connection portions are located on opposing surfaces of the contact leads and wherein the plurality of contact leads within each of the electrical connector components form a slot into which a electrical device can be inserted.  
     
     
       20. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 19  wherein the second connection portion of the contact leads have a longitudinal axis and the contact leads have a curved configuration such that the third connection portion of the contact leads are offset from the longitudinal axis of the second connection portions such that the distance between respective third connection portions in each of the electrical connector components is smaller than the distance between respective second connection portions in each of the electrical connector components, each of the second and third connection portions of the contact leads forming a leaf spring configuration. 
     
     
       21. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 19  wherein each of the connector components further comprise: 
       a registration block having a plurality of registration recesses being positioned proximate to the second connection portion of an associated contact lead and configured to receive and position an end portion of an associated wire to be connected to the second connection portion of the associated contact lead.  
     
     
       22. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 21  wherein the distance between the centers of each pair of adjacent registration recesses on each of the electrical connector components is approximately 0.8 mm. 
     
     
       23. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 21  wherein the registration recesses of each registration block have registration surfaces that are aligned along respective axes such that when wires are attached to the second connection portions of the contact leads with their respective wire ends engaging the registration surfaces, the ends of the wires are aligned along a respective axis. 
     
     
       24. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 21  wherein the registration recesses position the end portion of the associated wires such that the longitudinal axes of the segment of the wires to be connected to the second connection portions of the contact leads are aligned with the longitudinal axes of the associated contact leads. 
     
     
       25. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 21  wherein each of the connector components further comprise: 
       a wire retention comb supported by the plurality of contact leads and spaced apart from the registration block such that the second connection portion is exposed between the registration block and the wire retention comb, the wire retention comb including a row of teeth wherein at least one adjacent pair of teeth is configured to secure an associated wire that is to be connected to the second connection portion of a selected one of the contact leads.  
     
     
       26. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 19  wherein the second connection portions are elongated and have a substantially flat contact surface. 
     
     
       27. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 26  wherein at least some of the second connection portions further comprise: 
       an elongated and recessed trough formed in the contact surface wherein the recessed trough is suitable receiving and aligning a lengthwise portion of a respective electrical wire.  
     
     
       28. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 21  wherein the registration recesses have substantially the same depth. 
     
     
       29. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 28  wherein one of the pair of electrical connector components is a first connector component and the other is a second connector component, the electrical connector further comprising: 
       a first latch having a panel and at least two clasps wherein one clasp extends from a first end of the panel and another clasp extends from a second end of the panel, the panel covering at least a portion of the wire retention comb of the first connector component and the clasps secured to the second connector component such that the clasps lock the first and second connector components together, the panel being suitable for making contact with the wires connected to the second connection portion of the contact leads such that the wires are locked into the teeth of the retention comb of the first connector component.  
     
     
       30. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 29  further comprising: 
       a second latch having a panel and at least two clasps wherein one clasp extends from a first end of the panel and another clasp extends from a second end of the panel, the panel covering at least a portion of the wire retention comb of the second connector component and the clasps secured to the first connector component such that the clasps lock the first and second connector components together, the panel being suitable for making contact with the wires connected to the second connection portion of the contact leads such that the wires are locked into the teeth of the retention comb of the second connector component.  
     
     
       31. An electrical connector comprising: 
       a pair of electrical connector components that each have an inner face and an outer face wherein the inner faces of the connector components are attached to each other, each electrical connector component including  
       a plurality of contact leads, each of which have a first connection portion and a second connection portion, the first connection portion configured to connect to an external electrical system, at least a portion of each of the contact leads being exposed on both the inner and outer faces of a respective connector component, whereby physical access to the contact leads on the inner and outer faces of each connector component is provided; and  
       a registration block having a plurality of registration recesses, each of the registration recesses being positioned proximate to the second connection portion of an associated contact lead and configured to receive and position an end portion of an associated wire to be connected to the second connection portion of the associated contact lead.  
     
     
       32. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 31  wherein the distance between the centers of each pair of adjacent registration recesses on each of the electrical connector components is approximately 0.8 mm. 
     
     
       33. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 31  wherein each of the electrical connector components further comprise: 
       a wire retention comb supported by the contact leads and spaced apart from the registration block such that the second connection portion is exposed between the registration block and the wire retention comb, the wire retention comb including a row of teeth wherein at least one adjacent pair of teeth is configured to secure an associated wire that is to be connected to the second connection portion of a selected one of the contact leads.  
     
     
       34. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 31  wherein each of the electrical connector components are substantially identical. 
     
     
       35. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 31  wherein each of the connector components includes an opening that has a front edge and a rear edge, each of the contact leads being positioned within the opening and being connected to the front and rear edges of a respective opening. 
     
     
       36. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 31  wherein the second connection portions are elongated and have a substantially flat contact surface. 
     
     
       37. An electrical connector as recited in  claim 36  wherein at least some of the second connection portions further comprise: 
       an elongated and recessed trough formed in the contact surface wherein the recessed trough is suitable receiving and aligning a lengthwise portion of a respective electrical wire.